With three goals so far and some dazzling displays, Cristiano Ronaldo is shaping up to be the player of the tournament at Euro 2012, despite a slow start. Nevertheless, for many he's still in the shadows of Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Both players have failed to achieve major honors at international level with their countries. Ronaldo was a runner-up with Portugal at Euro 2004 and Messi led Argentina to titles at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship (for players under 20) and the 2008 Olympics. Messi has won the Champions League three times (2006, 2009 and 2001), while Ronaldo has won it once (2008.)

Messi or Ronaldo?

Head-to-head, Messi just shades it in terms of goals.

Here is a breakdown of both players' goal-scoring records over the last five years, including appearances in the domestic league, domestic cup, international club competitions and for the national team.

Friday, 22 June 2012

World footballer of the year Lionel Messi has pledged to spend his entire playing career at Barcelona.
Messi was speaking from Bogota, ahead of Friday's friendly international between Colombia and Argentina.
"Barcelona is my home," he said, "and I would love to spend my entire footballing career there, until I retire."
When asked if we consider joining Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid, the
captain of Argentina answered: "I am not thinking about a move to Real
Madrid."

Lionel Messi

Messi, who turns 25 on Sunday, came to Barcelona as a 13-year-old and
has risen to arguably the best player in the world. He scored a
record-breaking total of 73 goals for Barca last season and has been
World Footballer the last three years.

Messi was also asked about Tito Vilanova taking over as coach at Barca
from Pep Guardiola, who stepped down after winning 14 titles in four
years with the team.

"We are all pleased that Tito has been chosen as Guardiola's
replacement," he replied. "He is a person that we know very well, he
knows how to work in the same way as Guardiola.

"Obviously, the departure of Pep was painful for us, because we didn't
expect it, but Tito will not change our way of working very much.
Everything will be similar to how it was."

Messi also showed his satisfaction at the goals he has scored for
Argentina in recent games, most notably a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory
over South American rivals Brazil.

"I would love to win many things with my national team. Luckily, I have
been able to score in our World Cup qualifying matches," he said.

When asked about the pregnancy of his girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo,
Messi replied: "I don't really like talking about my private life, but I
am very happy at the prospect of being a father, I am enjoying all of
this."

DavidBeckham, Cristiano Ronaldoand LionelMessi, among highest paidathletesannounces the publicationasForbes, where he handledsomeastronomical figures.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham

The first player toappear in the listis DavidBeckham, ranked 8,between hissalary in theGalaxyandits advertising revenueis pocketedaround46 millioneuros.HefollowedthePortugueseCristiano Ronaldo, whoreceives some42'5millioneuros.Afterthem,2 postsbelow,but notleast,at 11, isLeoMessi, theArgentinian starBarcahisrise to fameearnsclose to39 millioneuros.These quantitiesare of a sizebrutal,andit is truethat may surprisethe place ofEnglish, whichis not in theelitefootballasif they dothe other twoplayers.

She lives inRosario, where he studiednutrition, while hespends mostof his time inBarcelona.However, anyexcuse is good tobe in the"ChicagoArgentina",in Catalonia, Switzerland andBuenosAires, where they sharean apartment inan exclusive buildingin PuertoMadero.

There are no moredoubts.LionelMessiwill bedadand evenrevealedthe sex of thebaby.The Fleaplayeda friendly inCancunfor the benefitof its foundingand thetelecastwas encouraged tosay "I know it willbe a boy," the unborn babywith her partnerAntonellaRoccuzzo.

The rumorsof his paternityhad arisenon the closure ofthe European season.Inthe match againstEcuadorwith Argentinaforthe playoffs, the Marketcelebrated hisgoal (the third teamSabella)with the ballunder her shirt, emulating a pregnancy.And thisSunday isFather's Day.

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi has publicly acknowledged for the first
time that he is expecting his first child with girlfriend, Antonella
Roccuzzo.

Messi and Antonella Roccuzzo

The Barcelona
and Argentina forward made the announcement on Saturday in Cancún,
Mexico, at the end of a charity match to promote the Leo Messi
Foundation.

"We did not want to say anything because we never
talk about our private life, but we were constantly asked about it, so
we wanted to share our joy," said Messi.

"Both my family and Antonella's are over the moon."

The
24-year-old had been tight-lipped when questioned about the reports
that he was expecting his first child with his partner, after his
special celebration of his goal in Argentina's 4-0 victory against
Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month.

Messi celebrated his goal by tucking the ball under his shirt, as if to simulate an expecting mother's belly.

Saturday, 9 June 2012

Lionel Messi yesterday
celebrated with a ball under his shirt after his teammate Sergio Aguero
scored a goal against Ecuador during a World Cup qualifying, confirming
pregnancy rumors. Apparently, there’s a little Leo on the way, so
congratulations for that.

In December 2011 Lionel Messi revealed his dream to become a father one day. 'I dream of being a father, but at the right time.The right time for me has not yet come', told Argentinian magazine Caras just six months ago.

Antonella Roccuzzo gets pregnant eight weeks after he did the interview. Fickle guy or unplanned pregnancy?

Conversely, current Brazil player Marcelo also called the Argentinian the "best player in the world," but then apparently changed his stance (per Bettor.com) in favor of Ronaldo, claiming he was misquoted.

The debate will go on, but Ronaldo will have the advantage this
spring of competing for Portugal in the highly anticipated European
Championship. If he takes his team far in the tournament, the eventual
praise will be limitless.

However, you cannot fault someone for
losing a contest with no invitation to compete. There is little Messi
can do over the next few weeks to convince people he is anything but the
best.
Argentina will compete this weekend in an international
friendly against South American rival Brazil in what will be one of the
most fascinating exhibitions of the year. While there are more important
contests to watch, this might be the only chance to see these great
players for some time.
That match will feature the No. 1 player in the world, something the Euro 2012 cannot claim.